The former inmate, Oscar Aponte, was taking his daughter trick-or-treating in Peekskill on Tuesday night when a county correction officer — also out trick-or-treating with her child — spotted the familiar jump suit, Tolchin said.

"She confronted him, and he ran and drove off," Tolchin said. The officer took down the man's license plate and called authorities.

The jail went into lockdown until a prisoner count established that no one was missing. Meanwhile, police found Aponte, confiscated the genuine jump suit and let him go.

Aponte was arrested and charged Wednesday with petty larceny and possession of stolen property, both misdemeanors, Tolchin said. She said prisoners are not permitted to take their jump suits home when they are released.

There was no telephone listing for Aponte's address.

Aponte was in the jail from May to September for violating probation on a drunken driving charge.